Illuminating means for signs and showcases



'Dec. 12, 1939. F. J; HOKE ILLUMINATING MEANS FOR SIGN-S AND SHOWCASES Fild- Dec. 19, 1938 MN I zoutm nkuhxtu Patented Dec. 12, 1939 UNITED STATES .ILLUMINATING MEANS FOR SIGNS AND v SHOWCASES Frank J. Hoke, Brendcnwood, Ind., assignor to Holcomb & Hoke Manufacturing Company, Indianapolis, Ind., a corporation Application December 19, 1938', Serial No. 246,586

1 Claim. (Cl. 40-.-130) This invention relates to a refrigerated showcase, particularly to a display feature thereof embracing illuminated advertising panels.

The object of the invention is to provide a refrigerated showcase with conveniently located advertising panels so positioned with respect thereto as to be generally in the line of vision of the customer, but without obstructing the customer's view of the contents on display within the case, and wherein the advertising panels are so arranged as to be illuminated by the same source of illumination as the contents displayed within the case.. Furthermore, such panels are built in as a decorative part of the structure without interfering with the normal or usual structure or functioning of the case of which they form a part. Y i

One embodiment of the invention resides in the provision ofa decorative apron formed as a portion of the top of the casing and extending downwardly with respect to the glass front, such apron carrying one or more apertured panels in the forward face thereof which provide frames for illuminated advertising plates, such as colored glass or the like. Associated with each 'of the panels and hidden by the apron and plates is a source of illumination, such as electric light bulbs which may be supported in position to be hidden from view while acting to illuminate both i o the panels and products contained within the case.

Other objects and features of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawing and the following description and claim:

Fig. 1, is a central vertical section through a refrigerated display case embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is an enlarged section through one of the advertising panels. i

'In the drawing there is shown as one embodiment of the invention a refrigerated case having. a base III, a front wall I I and a pivotally mounted dooror closure l2 for giving access to the lower compartment of the case The lower compartment is separated from the upper compartment by a display shelf I3 for supporting products displayed therein through the transparent front panel I. The upper rear portion of the case is provided with sliding doors ii for giving access to the upper compartment intowhich there extend shelf-supporting brackets l6 and refrigerant units, indicated at". The transparent frontpanel I4 is formed in the usual manner 7 with a series of glass platesfspaced from each other by their supports; comprising end walls l8,

a top frame member l9 and the front wall l l.'

A top frame'structure 20' is covered as usual v with enamel finished sheetmetal 2|. As shown 'moreclearly in Fig. 3, the sheet metal top covering extends forwardly beyond'the top frame member'and structure l9 and 20 and is then extended downwardly a short distance to provide a-depending apron 22 extending the full length of the case and spaced forwardly from the plane of the transparent front panel I. In the for- 5 ward face of the apron 22 there are provided a series of longitudinally extending apertures 23. Behind each of the'apertures and between the apron and the top frame member there are supported a plurality of electric lamps indicated at 10 24, said lamps being supported from a bracket 25 secured to a mounting strip 26 extending along the forward face of the-frame member I9. Each of said lamps is thus positioned so that the light emanating therefrom will be directed through the 15 corresponding apertures 23 and through the glass front I4 to the interior of the case. The lateral rays from said lamps are further augmented by reflection from the interior surface of the apron 22 and the lower reflecting surface of their supporting brackets 25. For the prevention of shadows being reflected from the glass frontv M, the apron 22 is curved inwardly at its lower edge, terminating in an upwardly turned flange 21 positioned below the lamps. At each end of the case there is an outwardly extending end flange 28 having its forward edge merging intothe exposed surface of thefront wall It and the front surface of the apron 22.

Mounted over each of'the apertures 23-there 30 is a display frame 29 removably supporting therein a transparent display panel 30. Said display panel is preferably formed of colored glass having advertising displays so formed or arranged as to be illuminated by the lamps 24 through the 35 apertures.

By means of this arrangement, the same source of light will illuminate the contents of the case. and the advertising panels, the advertising panels being attractively arranged directly in the line of vision of the customer and embodied in a structural part of the case which at the same time serves as a reflector and as a shade. 4 The-invention claimed is: 5

A showcase including a flat top and-a transparent front panel, a plate lying flat upon said top and extending in a continuous unbroken horizontal plane from the rear to the front thereof and projecting beyond the front edge of said top, 5

- an apron formed integral with said plate and depending therefrom beyond the forward edge of said top, said apron having an aperture therein with its upper edge disposed a substantial distance below said plate, an advertising panel 56 mounted on said apron over said aperture, and a light source between said panel and said apm wholly concealed by the latter and behind said advertising panel.

- FRANK J, KORE. 0' 

